Warden of Red Rock

James Caan at his best! The Western genre has almost disappeared from modern movie-making, but this is definitely a goody!

Caan is a progressive, compassionate prison warden in 1910 Arizona. (Location shots were in Durango, MX.) Carradine (as a former buddy) is put into his prison & Caan must keep a watchful eye on his old pal. Enough action to keep the movie rolling, but sidebar stories to keep the movie interesting. From Showtime.

Remember those old westerns where the good guys were really good and the bad guys were really bad and they could shoot a man off horseback at 300 yards and never hit the horse?

Well, "Warden of Red Rock" is cut from the same cloth. The film tells the story of the warden of an Arizona territorial prison (circa 1910) who, past his prime, begins feeling old and decides to make some changes in his life. The film follows him through the usual prison stuff (execution, break-out, etc.) and an involvement with the wife and daughter of an executed prisoner. "Warden..." makes for an okay watch if expectations are kept low.

It's a shame that, as far as I know, did not show a DVD of this film, which in any case deserves to see a greater number of viewers. It is one of the better TV films made over the last 20 years. The character of John Flinders, a warden of the prison Red Rock, remain in the memory of viewers as a moral giant. This is rarely succeeded compound of just and moral man in a very responsible job as manager of a prison, for the worst criminals from 1910. in Arizona. The whole film crew of director Stephen Gyllenhaal, through a skilled screenwriter James Lee Barrett, whom this film is dedicated, to the major actors, led by the excellent James Caan has given its contribution to this TV movie failed. Care should see the TV movie!

Yes you`ve read the above summary right , WARDEN OF RED ROCK is a family film . As a big fan of OZ I was left reeling watching this , there`s no shankings , no gang rapes and no cynicism . In fact its claim to be a prison film is extremely tenious , it`s more like WARDEN QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN and tells the story of how James Cann`s kind , noble character makes a promise to an inmate to return his possesions to his wife after he`s been hung . Remember Robert Redford as the title character in BRUBAKER ? Well the warden in this movie makes Henry Brubaker look like an out and out Nazi

You`ve probably realised that I was expecting something else from WARDEN OF RED ROCK , and I was . The info button on my remote didn`t mention it was a TVM , gave it a 15 certificate and it was broadcast just after midnight so I was expecting some violence and bad language which never came . Less cynical viewers might enjoy it perhaps

Top notch acting talent elevates this TV movie.

It's a fantasy of the wild west much like The Virginian was over thirty years before this movie was made.

It's a predictable and unsubtle story. No amount of 'spoilers' would ruin it for you. But it's still worth your attention.

Absorbing, low key, television drama.